Somewhere you don’t want to go.
My summer got off to a great start with a trip to Wyoming to see Logan, followed by a drive to Colorado to see the rest of Tyson’s family. We enjoyed hiking and visiting areas we had never seen before. We capped off the trip by spending an afternoon and morning visiting the Bear River Migratory Bird Refuge where we saw even more birds than usual. Driving home from Utah, I had some shooting pains down my right arm and thought I must have spent too much time shooting photographs. I wish that was all that it was.
Luckily, I don’t use my wrists to hike, so we hiked Mt. Rainier a couple of times after we got home from Colorado. On the last hike we only went four miles before my hip started hurting, and I had to cut our trip short. That turned out to be the last trip of the year because things quickly went from bad to worse — much worse.
After a week of intense pain that seemed to affect every joint in my body, I went to the doctor. She ordered x-rays of my hips and lower back, sent me to physical therapy, and referred me to a specialist to see if I had carpal tunnel. All of those turned out normal, at least normal for an 83 year old.
After a week I returned again because the pain killers she had originally given me didn’t stop the pain. I would be lucky to get an hour of sleep before I was awakened with intense pain in my hips. Meanwhile I was spending nearly twenty hours a day in bed, and needed help to get out of bed, get dressed, and get up and down the stairs. If It hadn’t been for Leslie waiting on me, I would probably have ended up temporarily in a nursing home.
My doctor ran more tests, which revealed I was suffering from anemia, iron deficiency, high levels of inflammation, blood in my stool sample, and an indication that I might have an auto-immune disease. The first two places I was referred to for the auto-immune diagnosis turned me away, saying that they were not taking outside referrals or that they were no longer taking referrals at all. In the end, I lucked out and got into a clinic run by the University of Washington in a mere two weeks.
I was finally diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis and put on a heavy dose of Prednisone to help get rid of the pain and Methotrexate to help reverse the effects of the arthritis. When I returned in six weeks, I still had considerable inflammation and the doctor prescribed a heavier, longer dose of Prednisone. Meanwhile, I got an Iron Infusion, which seemed to help, too.
I had to wait to get my Colonoscopy and Upper GI Endoscopy for several weeks after I had been diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis. Considering that my grandfather died of colon cancer and I have had polyps removed in earlier colonoscopies, I didn’t dismiss the possibility that multiple ailments had caused my pain. Needless to say, I was relieved when the tests came back negative.
Thankfully, my latest blood tests show that my inflammation is finally nearly back to normal. I’m definitely not in the same shape I was when I went to Colorado, but I like to think that I’m somewhere near 75%.
I still haven’t done a serious birding walk, but I just got a new birding lens that I tried to buy nearly two years ago so I’m anxious to get out there when the rain lets up. Meanwhile I am mostly focused on going to the gym and lifting weights at home.
In the short run, I will try to get back to reading poetry and philosophy books. I may even manage to comment on them.
Oh Loren, I’m so sorry you have developed RA. I’m glad there was no colon cancer! I hope you will soon be fully back to your old self. That sounds terribly painful and I’m glad the meds are helping. I thought at first you were going to say you had to have a hip replacement, which two of my friends just had recently (and two others a year or two ago). Getting old sure ain’t for sissies. Sending best wishes for a happy, healthy New Year and lots of good bird sightings.
Loren, I had noticed your absence online and was concerned. I’m so sorry about this difficult health journey. I’m glad that the treatment is helping. I recently got a new camera to photograph the birds that winter in California, and I’m thinking of you now when I’m out there.
I hope to get down there this winter now that most of my doctor appointments are through. I love the Sacramento National Wildlife Refuge.
If you end up heading there, it would be fun to meet you there. Please keep me posted.
Yike! Who knew it could manifest so abruptly? I’m so glad you could get diagnosed and treated.
I enjoy your posts and hope to hear about more outings as soon as you’re up to it.
We are sending positive energy your way. Keep moving. Hope to see you soon, and in the meantime we’ll be looking for photos and blogs.
Well, for an 83-year-old who has been flattened for months by a medical crisis, I’d say buying a new birding lens is a major statement about the future. You’re my new hero, Loren, welcome back!
Weird to “like” a post such as this, so I’ll add a comment, too. A agree with Andrew who wrote, “buying a new birding lens is a major statement about the future.” I’ll be reading, no matter where your wanderings (physical, intellectual) take you.